Riding a few weeks ago.

This is me on a friends mare. I advise you turn the sound off. I have no idea what I was saying at that part of the ride or that it was recorded.




She was balking at the flowers. I should have my arms bent!

Anyone??

LOL - "She's got allergies" that's cute. Couldn't be the dust in the arena? Noooo. Lol.

First of all, you are a soft rider. There is nothing wrong with that, it is nice to see since so many are focused on pulling their horses faces down into a false frame and all that jazz.

You need to get your legs under you. They are too forward for doing flat work. While your leg position is acceptable for jumping, since you want your legs wrapped around your horses girth, that position is unfunctional for dressage or aka flat work.

I like how you look into your turns and you are looking forward and ahead which is great. Your hands are lovely and I like that you are carrying them. They could be a smidge up more, with your elbows closed more - but I can't complain.

The Mare is going around nice and quiet for you, which is nice and she is adorable. But there is no functionallity in your riding, to make her functional in her movement and work.

Yes, she is going around nice and quiet and doing as you ask - but she's not working, and nor are you.

Sometimes I see a rider who is unbalanced at times. There are times where your upper body rocks back and then it rocks forward, and then it rocks back - you are loosing your seat here and there, and are not using your core what-so-ever.

It is hard to tell with your baggy fleece pull over, to decipher whether your lower back is strait or arched. But what I want you to do, is tuck your tail bone under you slightly, straiten your back and activate your core.

Your tummy muscles SHOULD SCREAM HELLO HERE I AM every single time you ride. I guarantee you 8 out of 10 riders DO NOT use their cores when they ride *numbers vary depending on coaching and level of riding* and most of the riders I see on here, do not.

Talk to Anebel and Spyder about using your core when you ride, they will greatly help you. Don't feel bad, I was one of those riders who didn't, until I found my new Eventing Coach - who makes me work bloody murder during our lessons.

Trust me, when you activate your core, you activate your seat and riding.

So back to topic, due to this, she *the horse* is going around getting away with having to do anything. She's just trotting or just going forward - that's it. Which is fine, if that is all that you wanted - but if it were I on her it would be different.

There is no engagement, she is not tracking up, not on her back end, heavy on her front and her head is high, back is dropped and all her energy is gushing out her front end.

But, that's a whole other topic of discussion.

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The 2nd video - was completely your fault. You were looking down at the jump, you were allowing her to take a look going "Hmmmmm" and you allowed her to escape to the inside.

Even though you had already walked her over them, you looked which created her to look.

Next time, look up, find your focal point beyond the obsticle and focus on that. Sit deep, wrap your legs around her, and make sure your aids are not allowing her to escape.

She escaped because you had no inside aids on her. Your left leg wasn't blocking and your left rein wasn't blocking. You dropped your shoulders, you dropped her head and your hands.

It wasn't Annie - it was you. The rider, the guider, the steerer.

Lift your shoulders, carry yourself, use your core, be fucntional through your riding, to make your horse functional. It takes a long time, and it takes instruction from a coach who is knowledgebale enough to get their riders to that point of education.

You have a great basis, a great foundtation - now build on that to make yourself even better.

I totally agree with that. It was the first time I've ridden her in the indoor. I wasnt sure what to expect so I didnt push her at all. This ring is soooo small. Its like two little round pens put together. IDK why someone would even build something this small. I think I was kind of afraid to work her in such a tiny space. When looking back, I really don't think it should matter much.

She is quite a handful, you have to push her every step of the way. I think that's why I started getting sloppy, I just get so tired riding her sometimes.
I but my legs back so far because I felt she wasnt listening to my leg when it was closer to her girth, and I think I was being lazy and using leg instead of my WHole body. That's what we're really working on, getting her more sensative. I did notice she doesnt track up at the trot either. She tracked up a tiny bit when my friend was riding her but she kind holds back at the trot, the way I was riding her. I havent been messing with her head too much. Im just happy she doesnt have that giraffe look most ottbs have. I do believe she's using her head and front end for balance. I had a very large tb who did the same thing, but you could actually feed him lean. Maybe I'm just not pushing her had enought to feel her leaning on me?

She started sneezing the moment she got in the ring, not just when she started kicking up dust. I am going to see if we can water the ring before we ride in the future.

Thanks for the imput. I'm trying to get some more video. I only ride her about once a week. She's in "training" with a trainer but I'm not sure how long her owner is going to keep her there.

I agree with MIE. She's just going through the motions, but you appear to b e a rider capable of asking for much more. Your instincts are good. You didn't let her turn away from the flowers and asked just enough to get her over the poles. Some people would have just kicked at her and made the problem worse. Nice to see someone riding their corners well.

Im never sure how much to push a baby. She's just turned 4 (by Jockey club standards) and has no professional retraining since she got off the track in late august. She's developed a way to resist, by refusing to go forward at some points. But since she's moved to a new barn she is alot more "forward" then what I was used to her being before.

The trick with the young ones is to find out how to push their buttons before they figure out how to push yours! I'm sure you'll find some things that she'll respond to. Just be VERY clear and consitant about what you're asking for. OTTBs can become frustrated very quickly if they don't know what you want. Most are very willing to please and just want leadership.

I want to show this summer with her in beginners, but she needs some miles before that. I'm going to seriously look for someone to take lessons with, maybe even twice a week, as soon as I pass this professional cert., hopefully I'll know by march. I have a newer video I just have to remind my friend to post it. You can check out her youtube janxaee, if you want.